Oh, To Understand! Nehemiah 4-8

May the mumbling commence!

Have you ever found yourself looking at your watch or the clock on the wall when you were at church?  Have you ever wondered when the worship service would ever end?  I think most of us have been there a time or two if we are honest with ourselves.  

It means that, in those times, we haven’t been engaged with what was going on.  We weren’t aware of God’s presence.  And we did not fully understand what the Word of the Lord meant for our lives.

When I think about it, the vital nature of preaching becomes paramount.  The essential nature of hymns and their theology becomes apparent.  And a community who comes together to engage the Word of God is invaluable.  Read about the community of leaders in Nehemiah’s day that sustained a worship service all morning long.  Read from Nehemiah chapter eight:

So on October 8 Ezra the priest brought the scroll of the law before the assembly, which included the men and women and all the children old enough to understand.  He faced the square just inside the Water Gate from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people paid close attention to the Book of the Law.  Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform that had been made for the occasion. To his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah. To his left stood Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.  Ezra stood on the platform in full view of all the people. When they saw him open the book, they all rose to their feet. 

Then Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and all the people chanted, "Amen! Amen!" as they lifted their hands toward heaven. Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 

Now the Levites – Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah – instructed the people who were standing there.  They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage.  Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, "Don't weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God." All the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the law. 

And Nehemiah continued, "Go and celebrate with a feast of choice foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!" 

And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them, "Hush! Don't weep! For this is a sacred day."  So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God's words and understood them. (Verses 2-12)

Ezra read from early morning until noon.  And the people stood through the whole reading.  Ezra read and explained… and so did the thirteen Levites who were working with him.

Did the people fall asleep on their feet?  Did they complain about the length of the service?  Did people worry about the roasts they had stewing at home?  NO! 

So what if they had a "burnt offering" waiting for them at home!  They understood the meaning of the Word of God for their lives.  They were shouting like an “Amen” chorus.  They lifted their hands in the air.  They bowed down in worship of the Lord.

And they were crying.  NO, they were not crying because of the length of the service (though some of us might have been).  They were crying because they fully understood the meaning of God’s Word for them and realized that they had fallen woefully short.

But the leaders, as one, told them not to cry.  This was a time of celebration.  It was a wholehearted return to the Lord.  Feast of choice foods and share them with those who came unprepared.  

God will give you strength to return to him once you approach him – just as the faithful father from Jesus’ parable of the “prodigal” son did.  We are set apart.  We are sacred – holy – unto the Lord.

I pray that we are engaged this way in worship today.  May the whole Body of Christ be so called to return fully to the Lord.  

Enough mumbling for now…  

Peace Out